Chris Sutton replies as Ian Crocker aims thinly-veiled swipe at Rangers live on Sky Sports
Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker aimed a dig at Rangers and Celtic as he commented on the importance of away fans in attendance at Scotland’s biggest fixtures while commentating on Hibernian against Hearts.
The atmosphere between the home support and visiting fans at Easter Road was bouncing, leading to Cocker aiming a dig at the ongoing away ticket row between the Glasgow giants.
Chris Sutton weighed in on the conversation, concluding the dig by admitting it is a shame the same thing can’t be seen everywhere amid the dispute between the Old Firm clubs.
Speaking live on Sky Sports as the two teams walked out prior to kickoff [Sky Sports, 27 December], Cocker raved: “We have fierce city rivals, we have a full house, we have away fans, we have pride and passion, we have the Edinburgh derby.”
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Cocker went on to comment: “The two have got their heads together to get a decent away support,” before Sutton concluded: “It’s a shame it’s not like that everywhere.”
Edinburgh showing how it should be done
The ongoing dispute over away tickets looks more and more embarrassing by the day. Both sides cited crowd trouble as their reasons for holding back, but the country’s capital clubs have shown that a fierce derby can be contested with the fans adding to the atmosphere.
Some around the Old Firm clubs may even have forgotten what it’s like to have away fans in attendance. After all, the fixture on 30 December will be the fourth straight SPFL clash with no away fans in attendance, but it really does make all the difference.
The atmosphere, whether it be at Ibrox or Celtic Park, is what’s best about the Old Firm. That audible passion, desire, and even nervousness as both sets of fans roar their teams on from the stands is what makes the biggest games what they are.
The chiefs in Glasgow need to sort themselves out, put their egos aside, and get away fans back in the ground because it’s getting embarrassing and both clubs are being shown up by the rest of the league setting a precedent.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has mooted a five-month loan deal for one “terrific” striker.